He has been fascinated with Egypt since childhood when his mother gave him a National Geographic article about Howard Carter and the Earl of Carnarvon discovering King Tut's tomb in Egypt, which happened in 1922 - the same year Fred was born

He's even traveled to Egypt to visit the Valley of Kings and see the antiquities firsthand and adorned his seven-foot sarcophagus with Egyptian gods such as the ruler of the underworld Anubis and the god of the afterlife Osiris

'Since I can remember being able to
read I have devoured all information about the ancient kingdoms of Egypt
and have spent a lifetime collecting memorabilia from that period.

Impetus: George Herbert, Fifth Earl of Carnarvon, is pictured with daughter Evelyn near the entrance Tutankhamen's tomb in 1922

'I even visited Egypt ten years ago to see the ancient antiquities first hand.'

Upon retirement from the United States Post Office, Fred began studying how to begin his future sarcophagus.

'I taught myself all the basics of woodcraft,' said Fred.

'After a great deal of trial and error over the past quarter-of-a-century I now have an eight-pieced sarcophagus made by using everyday chisels, sandpaper and files.

'The coffin is held together simply with wooden dowels and glue.'

Having made sure he fits inside his own coffin with careful measurements, Fred is supported in his morbid-but-fun hobby by 73-year old wife Joyce.

'If he starts getting under my feet I tell him to go off to his workshop and work on his box,' said Joyce.

'It is slightly odd to talk about the coffin he will be buried in, but his passion is ancient Egypt and its culture.

'He would want to be remembered in death for the passions he had in life.'

Decorated in royal golds, green, red and black, Fred has adorned his sarcophagus with Egyptian gods such as the ruler of the underworld Anubis and the god of the afterlife Osiris.

'This has been a great hobby and I am almost finished,' said Fred.

'I do have one last wish before I am placed into the box; that everyone makes sure I am dead before they close it.'